The Southwestern Edge of London 'New Malden'
First Ever High-Level Visit from the UK
Home to 20,000 Koreans, Half of UK's Korean Population
Ahead of President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife's state visit to the United Kingdom this month, King Charles III visited the Korean town of New Malden.
Home to about 20,000 Koreans, half of the UK’s Korean population... a place to experience the 'taste of home'
On the 8th (local time), King Charles III, who invited President Yoon as his first state guest after his coronation, visited New Malden for the first time to meet the Korean community and enjoy Korean food and culture. This marked the first time that high-ranking British officials, including Queen Elizabeth II, have visited a Korean town in the UK.
British journalists covering King Charles III’s visit to New Malden expressed surprise at the large Korean population and the number of Korean restaurants in the area, showing great interest in the current situation and background.
Located at the southwestern edge of London, New Malden has been home to Koreans since the 1970s, who established a community there. It is the largest Korean town not only in the UK but also in Europe.
It is about a 20-minute train ride from Waterloo Station, the southern gateway to central London, and belongs to the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, one of London’s 32 boroughs.
Currently, about 10,000 Koreans live within New Malden, and including surrounding areas, the population is estimated to be around 20,000. This accounts for half of the approximately 40,000 Koreans living in the entire UK.
Compared to central London, housing prices are lower, and the area offers good accessibility to the city center and a favorable educational environment, making it a preferred residential area for expatriates, Korean residents, and students. In the past, the embassy residence and companies like Samsung were also located in New Malden.
Today, New Malden boasts around 20 Korean restaurants and cafes, as well as Korean supermarkets, large marts, laundries, butcher shops, hair salons, churches, hospitals, academies, moving companies, and real estate agencies, providing a full range of conveniences.
Especially around the train station, the central commercial area, Korean restaurants and shops line both sides of the narrow two-lane road, and Korean signage is easily found.
Although Korean restaurants have become more common in central London and locals often serve Korean-inspired dishes, until recently, many parts of the UK and Europe required a visit to New Malden to truly experience the 'taste of home.'
For example, stories of famous athletes who have come to Europe and visited New Malden to eat jajangmyeon or other Korean dishes are still commonly heard.
Korean culture widely recognized, increasing visits from locals
Recently, as Korean culture has gained global attention, New Malden is emerging as the center of Korean culture within the UK.
A Korean resident said, "In recent years, children who love K-pop have been increasingly persuading their parents to visit New Malden to eat Korean food, and adults come to try 'chimaek' (fried chicken and beer) featured in dramas."
Additionally, The Guardian recently published a review of a newly opened Korean restaurant, and the Kingston Borough, which includes New Malden, designated November 22 as Kimchi Day this year?the first such recognition in Europe.
New Malden was once affectionately called 'New Moldong' and had a strong sense of Korean community, with Korean-language banners promoting drunk driving prevention displayed during the year-end. However, it now shows signs of being well integrated into British society.
Besides the Korean town, New Malden is a highly ethnically diverse area where people from Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, and other regions live together.
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